Travel and Tourism Information

Travel - International

AIR

The national airline is Belavia (B2) (website: www.belavia.by). Other airlines serving Belarus include Austrian Airlines, Baltic Air, Czech Airlines, El Al Israel Airlines, Estonian Airlines, Lithuanian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines and Lufthansa.

International Airports

Minsk 2 (MSQ) is 43km (27 miles) east of the city centre. To/from the airport: Buses and taxis are available to the city centre (travel time – 60 minutes). Taxis cost about €20 to get into town, according to official rates. Facilities: Banks and bureaux de change, bars, car hire (Avis), duty free shops, nursery, post office and restaurants. Minsk 1 underwent a lengthy reconstruction but is back in use. It offers flights to destinations including Kiev and Stockholm, plus international flights to regional cities.

RAIL

All trains arrive and depart from Minsk Central Railway Station located in the centre of Minsk. There are several lines from Berlin via Warsaw and Brest with connections to Minsk. Another line runs from Vienna via Warsaw and Brest. Further direct trains are available from other cities, including Kaliningrad, Moscow, Odessa, Riga and Vilnius.

ROAD

Visitors are advised to stay away from military establishments. Tourists may drive their own cars or may hire cars from some larger hotels. Those entering by car should have their visas registered at the hotel, motel or campsite where they stay for the first night and must insure their vehicle with a Belarusian insurance company at crossing points. On 1 January 2005, Belarus introduced a new system of fees for drivers of foreign vehicles wishing to use Belarus' highways. Payments are collected at border checkpoints and will vary according to the length of stay. Petrol stations accept cash and credit cards and are plentiful along the motorways and main roads. Contact the Embassy for information on the temporary documentation required to import a car. The following are approximate road distances from Minsk; Moscow: 690km (429 miles); St Petersburg: 900km (563 miles); Kiev: 650km (407 miles). Documentation: Valid International Driver's Licence. When travelling by private vehicle, travellers must be able to produce ownership documents or a letter of "power of attorney" at Custom's offices at border crossings. Only originals of these documents are accepted. Travellers must have third party car insurance or they may get an “on-the-spot” fine. Travellers can only buy this when entering Belarus. Motorists should enquire at Customs’ border offices for information. The quality of driving in Belarus is erratic. Belarus' "A-class" highways are in average to good condition. The condition of "B-class" roads varies considerably and some are impassable for periods in winter. Drivers should note that road works and potholes are usually poorly marked. Pony and trap combinations are a specific hazard for drivers in rural unlit areas. Drivers should observe the speed limit at all times. The standard speed limit is 37 mph (60 kph) in built up areas; 55 mph (90 kph) outside built up areas; and 62 mph (100 kph) on motorways (Brest-Moscow). Visiting motorists who have held a driving licence for less than two years must not exceed 43 mph (70 kph). The authorities operate a nil-tolerance policy in respect of drink driving. Vehicles should have lights on at all times from 1 November to 31 March inclusive. Motorists should be aware that there may be long queues at the border, and that customs and immigration can be lengthy and bureaucratic. Drivers should ignore “private facilitators” who offer to help travellers pass through checkpoints and border crossings. There are also police checkpoints on all the main routes to and from Minsk. Drivers should stop at these when instructed, and have the vehicle documentation to hand, otherwise they risk a fine and delay. Motorists entering Belarus should ensure that they do not overstay the temporary import terms for their vehicles. Violation of the exit deadline may result in confiscation of the vehicle at the Belarusian border.
Coach: Coaches run from many points across Europe. There are three international bus stations in Minsk: Central Bus Station, Eastern (Vostochnaya) Bus Station and Moscow (Moskovskaya) Bus Station.

Travel - Internal

RAIL

Services run regularly from Minsk to all other towns. For more information, contact Belarus Railways (website: www.rw.by). There have been instances of theft from travellers, especially on sleeper trains to Warsaw and Moscow.

ROAD

Belarus has a road network of 51,547km (32,219 miles), most of which is hard-surfaced, although there are potholes and lighting is bad. Traffic drives on the right. Regulations: International traffic signs and regulations are in use. Driving under the influence of any alcohol is strictly forbidden. Speed limits are 60kph (37mph) in towns and cities and 90kph (55mph) on country lanes. There are frequent radar traps. Documentation: International Driving Permit required. Also needed are a driving license and a latter of attorney if not the owner of the car being driven (see Travel International section).

URBAN

Public transport is cheap and efficient. The city of Minsk has an underground system with two lines that cover central Minsk (16 stations). It is in the process of being expanded. Trains run between 0530-0100, buses, trams and trolleybuses between 0535-0030. Tickets for buses, trams and trolleybuses can be purchased at news-stands or kiosks and are to be punched on board. Entry to the underground is by tokens which are obtainable from stations. Taxis are available and carry a maximum of four passengers; fares can vary greatly.

Resorts & Excursions

Minsk

The capital of Belarus, situated 340km (213 miles) northeast of Warsaw and 120km (75 miles) southeast of Vilnius, was first mentioned in 1067, but little of the old city now survives except a few 17th-century buildings. The city grew to be an important axis of communication and suffered badly during World War II. Modern Minsk is symmetrically designed with wide embankments flanking the Svisloch River. The cultural scene is very diverse with the Belarusian Ballet and good museums such as the National Museum of Belarusian History and Culture, the National Arts Museum, the Museum of History of the Great Patriotic War and the Museum of Old Belarusian Culture. Other interesting museums deal with the major Belarusian writers Kolas, Kupala, Bogdanovich and Brovka. Icons form a large part of the National Gallery. Museums generally open Tues-Sun 1000-1900. The suburb of Troitskoye Predmestye should not be missed; it gives an insight into the way Minsk once looked. 19th-century houses with colourful façades line the streets. There are also excellent examples of Baroque architecture such as the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (1642), the Cathedral of St Peter and Paul (1613) and the Maryinsky Cathedral, which has been rebuilt to its original shape
EXCURSIONS: About 22km (14 miles) from the capital is the picturesque village of Raubichi with an interesting ethnographic museum housed in a disused church. Not far from Raubichi (10km/6 miles) is the idyllic Minsk Lake dotted with numerous islets and surrounded by dense pines. The Museum of Folk Architecture is situated in Ozerto (15km/10 miles southwest of Minsk), which features original pieces of century-old buildings from different regions in Belarus. The Dudutki Museum of Material Culture is to be found 40km/25 miles from the capital city and is the only private museum in Belarus showing traditional crafts and ways of life. The onion-shaped domes of Russian Orthodox churches dominate the landscape throughout the country, but especially around Logoysk (40km/25 miles from Minsk), Krasnoe (60km/38 miles from Minsk) and Molodechno (80km/50 miles from Minsk). The memorial at Khatyn commemorates its destruction by the German army during World War II

Beyond Minsk

Wide plains, picturesque villages, ancient castles and monasteries, deep forests, scenic landscapes, and thousands of lakes await visitors. Belintourist offers several one- and two-week itineraries with different themes catering for nature-lovers, culture fans and sport enthusiasts.
The village of Zhirovitsa, 190km (119 miles) from Minsk, is renowned for the beautiful 15th-century Monastery of the Assumption. Part of the monastery complex is a convent and a theological seminary (17th-18th century).
120km (75 miles) from Minsk is the small town of Mir where one can see the Jewish Cemetery and the 15th-century Mir Castle. Nearby, historic Nesvizh still retains its old buildings. The former residence of the Radzivill family is one of the most attractive palaces in the country. It is surrounded by a large park with numerous lakes and elaborate gardens. Only a short walk away is the imposing Catholic Church designed by the 16th-century Italian architect Bernardoni.
Vitebsk, situated 270km (169 miles) from Minsk is the birthplace of the painter Marc Chagall. There is a cultural centre named after him, and his family house has been turned into a museum.
The centre of Christianity during the time of Rus (the first Russian state) lay in the Slavic town of Polotsk. An excellent example of architecture of the period is the Church of St Sophia. Also worth a visit are the two castles nearby.
Brest is a popular place to visit. One of the highlights is a tour of the Brest Fortress which was used to repel the German forces during World War II. Inside the Fortress is a museum which chronicles its history back to the 13th century. This history is further illustrated by a fascinating selection of exhibits in the Museum of History and Archaeology. In the surrounding countryside, time appears to have stood still for centuries. 500-year-old trees can be found in the nature reserve Balvezhskaya Pushcha. Wild European bison roam the area. Brest also has a famous puppet theatre that is worth seeing.
In Grodno, the fifth-largest city of Belarus, major sites are the Old Town centre, the Kalozh-Church and the Old Castle (both 11th-century).
The north and northwest, near the borders of Lithuania and Latvia, is dominated by the Braslav Lake District. It is a good area for watersports, with a total of 30 lakes situated in an atmospheric forest. Accommodation in the area is usually in small dachas along the lakeshore. Belavezha Wood is one of the last sites where rare animals such as bisons, bears and wolves can still be seen living in their natural habitat. Long scenic hiking trails are scattered throughout the Nature Reserve of Berezinsky, stretching from the source of the Berezina to Palik Lake. Primeval forests, marshland, deep rivers and a rich fauna and flora dominate this unique region, hence its UNESCO listing as a protected biosphere